A Healthy Life Starts at Home

The Parker-Jenick Foundation invests in proactive solutions to housing instability, preventing homelessness through early intervention and community partnerships.

Our Mission

We believe that housing and health are inseparable. You cannot be truly well if you are worried about where you will sleep tonight. Our mission is to remove the barriers that push families into instability, creating the safe, permanent foundations people need to live healthy, thriving lives, and preventing homelessness before it happens.

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THE PREVALENCE OF HOUSING INSECURITY

Alarming Facts that Define Housing Insecurity:

Homelessness
- US reached a record high in the US in 2024
Cost Burden/Affordability:
- 21 million of all renters are cost burdened
- 8 million homeowners are cost burdened
Housing Quality:
- 6 million homes in the US are considered substandard in quality
Overcrowding
- 19 million Americans live in overcrowded homes
Frequent Moves
- Nearly 5 million Americans face potential housing loss via eviction or foreclosure annually

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THE HEATLH IMPACT OF HOUSING INSECURITY

Housing Insecurity Impact on Health Outcomes:

44% increased risk of congestive heart failure
12 increased odds of having uncontrolled diabetes
10% increased risk of pediatric ED readmissions
40% increased risk of mortality
3 times higher odds of having depression
6 times higher odds of having anxiety
55 times higher odds of childhood developmental delays
44 times higher odds of poor health in children

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THE HEALTH IMPACT OF IMPROVED HOUSING SECURITY

Studies have shown that improving housing security can have positive health impacts:

Reduce inpatient hospitalization by 77%
Decrease ambulance use by 66%
Decrease ED costs by 62%
Increased access to health care
Lower asthma rates
Lower prevalence of chronic illnesses
Increase education and economic opportunities

Our Pillars of Strategic Approach

We focus on both upstream interventions that prevent housing crises and downstream, pre-homelessness interventions that resolve immediate financial or legal instability.

Health Starts at Home (Health Equity)

The Philosophy: Why we do this.

We fund partners who believe that a safe home is the most important prescription a doctor can give.

Safety First: They refuse to accept that any child or senior should live with hazards like lead or mold.
Mental Well-being: They understand that the only cure for the toxic stress of housing insecurity is a stable front door.
Whole-Person Care: They treat housing stability as a medical necessity, not just a social service.

Keeping People in Their Homes (Crisis Prevention)

The Safety Net: Helping when things go wrong.

We back the organizations that step in early to ensure a missed payment doesn’t lead to homelessness.

Rent Relief: Providing emergency funds to help cover costs during hard times.
Legal Support: Offering access to lawyers and advice to navigate the court system.
Mediation: Helping tenants and landlords solve problems together to avoid eviction.

Investing in What Works (Non-Profit Grants)

The Method: How we scale success.

We provide the capital, but we trust the experts on the ground to do the work.

Proven Solutions: Backing programs that have a clear track record of success.
Smart Growth: Helping effective local ideas expand to reach more families.
Trusted Partners: Supporting the organizations that know their communities best.

Changing the Rules (Upstream Interventions)

The Prevention: Stopping the problem at the source.

We support those fighting to fix the system so affordable housing is possible for everyone.

Zoning Reform: They fight for fair laws so that outdated rules don’t block the construction of new homes.
Housing Trust Funds: They establish dedicated public funds to ensure there are always resources to keep housing affordable.
Workforce Programs: They create career pathways, knowing that financial stability is the key to staying housed long-term.

Strategic Logic Model

Our Approach→Activities → Outcomes → Impact

Health Starts at Home: Safer housing improves health and reduces disparities.
Keeping People in Their Homes: Prevention reduces eviction and homelessness.
Investing in What Works: Strong nonprofits scale lasting solutions.
Changing the Rules: Policy reform increases affordable housing supply.

Together, these strategies create healthier families, stable housing, and resilient communities.

Hands holding puzzle business problem solving concept

Support Our Mission

Your donation provides critical housing support to families facing sudden crises. Together, we can keep our neighbors safely housed and on the path to stability.

Success Story: The Johnson Family

When Mr. Johnson lost his job due to illness, his family quickly fell behind on rent and faced eviction. With emergency rental assistance from one of our partner organizations—and access to job training—they were able to stay in their home and rebuild.